At the end of the meeting, the protest leader, comedienne Frigide Barjot, called it "substantial and sympathetic" and claimed the talk had "shaken up" Mr Hollande.
After the meeting, Mr Hollande's office reaffirmed his determination to go ahead with "a project that marks a great advance toward equality among all citizens", while Ms Barjot called on opponents of gay marriage - who include many Catholics and other faith groups, to march again on 2 February in departments all across France.
Two days later, gay marriage supporters held their final demonstration before the bill's presentation in parliament today.
An estimated 250,000 attended - half the number of the anti-gay-marriage protest on 13 January.